Rotary connector

Abstract

A rotary railroad car coupler is described as having a rotary connector with a spherical butt end for seating engagement in a spherical cavity formed in an adjacent front follower.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary coupler, comprising: (a) a yoke having an opening in the front end thereof;   (b) a front follower disposed in the yoke in spaced relation from the opening in the front end and having a concavity recessed therein and facing the opening in the front end;   (c) a connector rotatably mounted in the yoke between the opening in the front end and the front follower, the connector having a butt end which is matingly configured for seating engagement in the concavity of the front follower;   (d) a coupler head having a shank extending therefrom through the opening in the front end of the yoke into the connector; and   (e) means for mounting the coupler shank to the connector for unitary rotation therewith.   
     
     
       2. The rotary coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler shank has a convex spherical butt end, and the connector has a matingly configured spherical concavity in spaced relation from the spherical butt end thereof for seating the spherical butt end of the coupler shank. 
     
     
       3. The rotary coupler of claim 2, wherein the concavity and butt end of the connector are spaced apart a thickness (t) of about 11/4 to 13/8 inches, measured at the longitudinal centerline of the connector. 
     
     
       4. The rotary coupler of claim 1, wherein the butt end of the connector has a greater area than the concavity of the front follower. 
     
     
       5. The rotary coupler of claims 1, 2, or 4, wherein the concavity of the front follower and the butt end of the connector are spherical. 
     
     
       6. A rotary coupler, comprising: (a) a yoke having a longitudinal axis and an opening in the front end thereof;   (b) a front follower disposed in the yoke in spaced relation from the opening in the front end and having a spherical concavity facing the opening in the front end;   (c) a connector having a convex spherical butt end for seating in the spherical concavity of the front follower, the connector being mounted in the yoke between the opening in the front end and the front follower for rotation about its longitudinal axis which parallels the longitudinal axis of the yoke, the area of the spherical butt end of the connector being greater than the spherical concavity of the front follower, the connector being restricted for radial movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the connector and for axial movement longitudinally of the yoke and the connector having a spherical concave seat in spaced relation from the convex spherical butt end thereof;   (d) a coupler head having a shank extending therefrom through the opening in the front end of the yoke into the connector, the shank having a convex spherical butt for seating engagement in the spherical concave seat of the connector; and   (e) means for mounting the coupler shank and the connector for unitary rotation.   
     
     
       7. The rotary coupler of claim 6, wherein the spherical butt end of the connector has a thickness (t) of 11/4 to 13/8 inches measured at the longitudinal centerline of the connector.